Truth in Fiction Or, Morality in Masquerade. A Collection of Two hundred twenty five Select Fables of Aesop, and other Authors. Done into English Verse. By Edmund Arwaker |
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| XV. | FABLE XV. The Ass-Teacher.
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 | Truth in Fiction |  |
214
FABLE XV. The Ass-Teacher.
Wise Procrastination.
A hungry Tyrant, whose oppressive Reign
Did many ways his Subjects Purses drain;
Was of a Wealthy Virtuoso told,
(And that was strange) who wallow'd in his Gold:
Him he resolv'd to squeeze, among the rest:
And, since Sir Gim-crack mighty Feats profess'd,
Enjoin'd him (with design to make him Bleed)
Soundly to Fine, or teach an Ass to Read.
Did many ways his Subjects Purses drain;
Was of a Wealthy Virtuoso told,
(And that was strange) who wallow'd in his Gold:
Him he resolv'd to squeeze, among the rest:
And, since Sir Gim-crack mighty Feats profess'd,
Enjoin'd him (with design to make him Bleed)
Soundly to Fine, or teach an Ass to Read.
The Spark, who knew Refusal was a Crime,
Said, That cou'd only be the Work of Time;
But if his Grace wou'd Twenty Years allow,
To try Experiments what Art cou'd do;
He durst engage, his Pupil, by his Care,
Shou'd Read as well as any Clerk at Bar.
At this Extravagance his Friends grew sad,
And thought the daring Undertaker mad.
But he, to put them all in better Heart,
Bid them Chear up, and not distrust his Art:
For, e're so long a Time cou'd be expir'd,
If he shou'd fail to do the Work requir'd,
'Twas probable the Prince, the Ass, or he
Might be defunct, and then he shou'd be free:
And in the int'rim (let what wou'd ensue)
He sav'd his Credit, and his Money too.
Said, That cou'd only be the Work of Time;
But if his Grace wou'd Twenty Years allow,
To try Experiments what Art cou'd do;
He durst engage, his Pupil, by his Care,
Shou'd Read as well as any Clerk at Bar.
At this Extravagance his Friends grew sad,
And thought the daring Undertaker mad.
But he, to put them all in better Heart,
Bid them Chear up, and not distrust his Art:
For, e're so long a Time cou'd be expir'd,
If he shou'd fail to do the Work requir'd,
'Twas probable the Prince, the Ass, or he
Might be defunct, and then he shou'd be free:
And in the int'rim (let what wou'd ensue)
He sav'd his Credit, and his Money too.
215
The MORAL.
‘Delay, tho' Dangerous in other Things,‘In Difficulties kind Assistance brings:
‘And, when Men cannot shun impending Fate,
‘They wisely shou'd the Stroke procrastinate.
‘Wretches Condemn'd, by gaining a Reprieve,
‘Find Means to get their Pardon pass'd, and live.
| Truth in Fiction | |